a/n: Apologies, everyone! I know I can't keep using the same excuse but it is true anyway and getting even incredibly harder to juggle my college program with my love for writing. I have my final semester exam coming up tomorrow but I was determined to somehow get this chapter online no matter what the cost... (a certain reviewer might have had a hand in this)... However, this would be the first (and shortest) of the three-part Wave finale.
Pointers: I hope to resolve a lot of things with the completion of this arc. Most especially those involving Kyuubi's interaction with Naruto, and Sasuke's undescribed 'condition'. I'm also a bit worried to be honest. This is the first time I've ever written in such part by part form and I generally want to know what you readers' opinions are. Do you think the plot is advancing too slow? Should I just speed things along and end this quickly? I played this out like a series before I began but I don't want to leave anyone who bothered to read this unsatisfied. So, please, don't be shy to express your concerns.
Either way, this is a Drama/adventure fic, people, not a romance story. I build relationships around a plot not the other way around. I'm all about character dev right now, so if you like, enjoy the read :)
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine, take it, it's yours!
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Chapter Fifteen
Long, Long Way From Home - I
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It was a Monday,
a day like any other day
I left the small town for the apple in decay
It was my destiny
What we needed to do
They were telling meeee
I'm telling you...
Hatake Kakashi sighed as he turned the volume down on the beat up stereo. He had to admit, it was a bit unusual this early in the morning to see an empty kitchen without Tsunami bustling about, but even more unusual was the lack of any noise at all - including that of Tazuna; who should have been croaking aloud the lyrics of the song from his spot in the shower.
He groaned. He wasn't overtly superstitious but he could already tell that today was going to have all the makings of a bad one.
Nursing a mild headache, the lanky jonin hobbled into the still kitchen, intent on brewing something to drink. He had been up most of the night anyway; the least he could do was enjoy a decent morning.
Contrary to what he told his students, there were numerous other; albeit slower, means of transfering information without resorting to the wiles of modern science (He had the shinobi founders and his summoning contract to thank for that). He didn't think the mobile phone existed at the time Hashirama founded the Oniwabanshu - a handy thing too, else mercenaries of today would have been far too dependent on technology than was relatively necessary.
He had been relaying status updates to HQ for some time now, and was currently expecting backup, although it was a thought too crucial to burden his students with. They were lax enough already as it was ~!
"Good morning, Hatake-san."
The jonin raised an eyebrow. It was still as early as five; quite the normal schedule for one in Tazuna's line of work, but Haku? Did he spend the night?
The long haired boy was staring out the lone window, patiently monitoring the small pot that sat on the stove. Kakashi inhaled briefly.
Ah, jasmine tea.
"Would you like some tea, Hatake-san?"
The jonin shrugged, observing the mild youth languidly. Haku's mannerisms today seemed a bit off. A bit too calm and yet, a bit too edgy at the same time. He took a seat, placing his crutch at his side.
The boy poured two cups of the substance and approached the small table. Kakashi nodded in permission as Haku ladled honey into the brew, using fine pieces of silverware.
"How long have you been up?", he asked.
The boy sighed, "Long. I didn't get much sleep."
"Oh. That means you slept over then. Did you happen to see Chojuro-san?"
Haku nodded, reaching for his cup and taking a small sip, "He left for a walk a while ago."
The jonin studied his face indifferently before also reaching for his own cup.
"I assume you know of the situation with the Dozukis, right?"
"I know you are mercenaries if that's what you're talking about, Hatake-san."
"Maa, I am, but surely you must know that Tazuna is being targeted by a Gato person... and an assassin previously thought dead is currently after them."
Haku's brows furrowed and he uttered thoughtfully, "Tsunami-san has hinted so to me, yes."
"Then why do you still lag around? Do you not fear for your own safety?"
The youth smiled, "You understimate me, Hatake-san. I'm not as unassuming as I may seem. I cherish the safety of the Dozukis far above my own."
"I thought you'd say so."
His reply was met with an unsure gaze which Kakashi ignored, choosing instead to lean back and lift a lone finger to his shawl. He took a deep wiff of his cup.
Jasmine and something else... a hint of lemon, honey and...
"Is there something on my face, Haku?"
The boy flushed immediately, "No, Hatake-san. It's just that I've never seen it before. I've always wondered how you managed to keep it on while you eat."
'Everything fits', Kakashi mused, 'A lady.'
"How much do you know of modern sciences?"
Haku looked surprised at the question, "Not much. I never did go to school. Why?"
"Oh no. Nothing serious. Ignore me."
The jonin lowered his shawl briefly, revealing a long nose and shadowed jaw. He took a small sip of his tea, humming gently in the process.
"This is really good, Haku."
The youth smiled in appreciation. A small bead of sweat rolled down Kakashi's brow as he drank yet again.
"But it seems I was right..."
Haku's eyes narrowed.
"Jasmine tea never tastes as good as simple mineral water."
"Hatake-san?"
Kakashi's arm went slack, sending his teaspoon clattering to the ground.
"Aw", the jonin said, perspiring heavily, "would you get that for me, Haku?"
The boy gave Kakashi a strange glance before bending to retrieve the fallen spoon. His quick reflexes were the only thing that managed to save him as he rolled out of the way, barely evading the blinding light that tore through the wood, reducing the kitchen table to little more than fine splinters.
He rolled to his feet, senbon at the ready, only to watch the former Kakashi burst into smoke. Another stood behind him, right fist encoalesced in bright, blue chakra; emitting a strange, chirping noise.
The youth made to fling his needles but was forced to leap out of the way again as the jonin charged, striking the wall where he had formerly been. His hand went through the brick as easy as a knife would through molten butter.
Haku hung upside the ceiling, studying his foe intently.
"How did you know?", he asked, eyes narrowing uncharacteristically.
Kakashi shrugged carelessly, "I might not be paranoid, but I am careful, Haku. When you offered me some tea, I replaced myself with a hidden clone and watched from the kitchen cabinet. Good tea is hard to come by these days, but it was pretty obvious that the tea wasn't poisoned - the cutlery was. You used different teaspoons to dish out the honey."
"As expected from the great Sharingan Kakashi", the boy replied, "Even I knew that your iny was but a ruse. However, it was not poison. Only a potent anaesthetic. I wanted you weakened enough for your battle with Zabuza-san."
"Scared, isn't he?", Kakashi mused. He adjusted the grip on his hand, the chakra still chirping noisily, "Too bad you wouldn't be leaving here alive."
"I've already left", Haku replied forebodingly, "You're not the only careful one, Hatake-san. This too is a clone." And as he spoke, his body began dripping off to the floor, in thick globs of water, "I will advice you to take your duties as a sensei far more seriously next time. If you wish for this to be end well, bring the builder along and meet us at the bridge by noon. That is all."
The clone dissolved into water, pooling on the kitchen floor.
"Team three; ASSEMBLE!"
Sasuke was first to arrive at the kitchen, in pyjamas and bed hair but with all his weapons at the ready.
"I can't find Naruto and Kyuubi. What's wrong, Kakashi?"
Before his teacher could reply, Tazuna too raced into the kitchen, "What's all the noise about? Wha - What happened to my kitchen table? And my WALL!"
Kakashi ignored him, "Sasuke, what about Chojuro? He was supposed to guard the house while I stood watch over Tazuna's room."
Sasuke frowned, "No, I haven't seen him since last night."
Kakashi's eyebrow furrowed. If he (point A) was occupied with Tazuna while Chojuro (point B) was nowhere to be found. That meant... points C and D...
Tsunami and Inari!
"Shit!", he cursed, flying quickly up the stairs, Sasuke and Tazuna following closely behind. As predicted, the two Dozukis were missing from their beds.
"My family!", the bridge builder screamed.
"Sasuke, see if you can search for any traces of Naruto, Kyuubi or Chojuro", Kakashi directed calmly. The genin nodded and raced out of the room.
"Tazuna-san, you come with me. We'll get your family back. I promise."
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Naruto sighed as he collapsed from exhaustion yet again. He was just drifting off to Nirvana, about to enjoy the next few moments of absolute bliss... when a soled boot thudded painfully into his side, rousing him from his well sought after gratification. He swore.
"What the hell!... ANBU-teme?"
The blue-haired man looked at him sternly though the geeky glasses probably dulled the overall effect a bit more.
"W-what are you doing here, Naruto? I thought Kakashi-san ordered you to stay indoors last night? Now, I find out that you've gotten into trouble!"
Naruto, who was busy yawning, didn't hear much of what was being said except, "Er, what trouble?"
"Y-you're not in any mortal peril?", Chojuro asked dubiously.
"Except for a few back pains and muscle cramps, why would I be?", Naruto retorted dryly.
"B-but H-Haku approached me before daybreak saying he saw flashes coming from your general direction out in the woods. I had to take the long route here so I could surprise your attackers, if any."
"Well, I'm not in any freaking danger!", Naruto spat, "Wait a minute. Did you say Haku?"
Without waiting for an answer, he leapt to his feet, hauling his bag off the ground, "We better head back home, ANBU-teme. Something fishy's going on."
He ignored Chojuro's protests about the randomness of the nickname.
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"I've found Kyuubi", Sasuke reported, looking in on a harried Tazuna and calm Kakashi.
The girl was laid out on the wooden dock by the backyard, seemingly fast asleep. A piece of senbon stuck prominently out of her slender neck, drawing attention away from her vivid red hair. Kakashi crouched and gathered her gently in his arms.
"Is she dead?", a teary-eyed Tazuna asked. Sasuke glared at him.
"No. But she'll need to recover. This is the handiwork of Haku." He gently extracted the weapon.
"I swear to kami, if I lay my hands on that motherless bastard, I'll kill him! If anything should happen to my grandson or my daughter, I swear I'll...!"
"Your family is fine, Tazuna-san", Kakashi chastised sternly.
"They better be!", the old man huffed, "I open my arms to an orphan and what do I get in return? Shoulda listened to Naruto..."
"Oi!"
They turned sharply to see Naruto and Chojuro racing towards them. Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly.
"Where have you been?", he directed at the ANBU trainee.
"Chill out, sensei. It wasn't Chojuro's fault. Haku tricked his ass."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow causing the youth to stutter ashamedly.
"S-sorry, I-I got blinded b-by my concern for N-Naruto-kun's safety."
"Is Kyuubi okay?", the blonde asked, noticing the bundle in his teacher's arms. The beautiful redhead looked surprisingly at peace, a look hardly ever associated with her fiery manner.
Kakashi nodded and Naruto grit his teeth in anger. He turned away.
"Where are you going, dobe?"
Naruto's hate-filled glare flew over his shoulder, "To find that bastard. He'll pay for what he did to her."
Sasuke nodded, "I'm coming too."
Tazuna also took after them and Chojuro; a look of resolution on his face, causing Kakashi to raise an eyebrow.
"Where do you all think you're going?"
"To the bridge", Sasuke replied, "Isn't that where Haku said he'll be waiting?"
"You can't stop us now, sensei", Naruto interjected, "We patiently followed your orders but now we have to act! They've drawn first blood!"
"No one's trying to stop you, Naruto, Sasuke. But this is a hostage situation. We'll need a plan for whatever we're doing."
"We already have one! Go out there and beat them the fuck up!"
Kakashi's look hardened, "Just because Tsunami and Inari aren't your daughter and grandson respectively, doesn't mean you get to toy with their lives as you see fit. You are no longer in the 'hood', Naruto. If you truly think yourself to be a mercenary, start now to behave like one, or else camly leave your ID card behind forever."
The boy stilled at the rebuke, fists tightening at his sides. Kakashi swept past him, carrying their only female member into the house. After a moment, the rest followed at a sedated pace.
"This is the plan."
They were gathered in the living room, pouring over all the information Chojuro had retrieved on Zabuza. A piece of Tsunami's scarf was lying on a nearby stool, procured from her room courtesy of Tazuna.
"We'll split into two groups. Group one is the search and rescue team and their job is to identify the location the Dozukis might have been taken. Group two will accompany Tazuna to the bridge at noon just as bargained. Whichever way it comes down to it, we are going to battle the Mist demon."
"Hn, and how do we track the hostages down, sensei?", Sasuke asked, "There should be over a million hiding places in Wave not to mention our unfamiliarity with this region."
"Maa, leave that to me", and with a series of handseals, he placed his palms on the table and uttered, "Kuchiyose no jutsu!"
A small pug appeared in the midst of the smoke, arm raised in Kakashi's traditional greeting, "Yo."
Naruto shrieked and backed away. Tazuna looked deathly pale while Sasuke carried an unsure look on his face. Chojuro just looked amused.
"What the hell is THAT?", Naruto screamed, pointing at the dog.
"Where?", the dog shrieked too, looking over its shoulder for the source of the blonde's commotion.
"Summoning jutsu", Sasuke replied uneasily, "I've heard about it but this is the first time I've seen one up close. Some mercenaries have the ability to summon talking animals with whom they have a prior contract."
Naruto still looked very sceptical, "Then why does it talk? Dogs aren't supposed to talk! They bark and say woof, woof!"
"Kakashi", the pug drawled, eyeing his summoner with a distinctive sleepy look, "I know it's been a while but have human beings really gotten stupider? Or is it just the blonde one? Why he seems surprised at the fact that I can talk is highly beyond me."
The blonde eeped and pulled at his hair, "He's doing it again!"
"Naruto", Kakashi intervened, "Pakkun is not a normal dog. He is a nin-ken from the summoning verse. Long ago, the mercenary founders discovered his world and have been utilising their services ever since. Don't act too surprised."
"Kakashi, you objectify me", Pakkun drawled once more, "My services will cost you this time around. A foot rub and some doggie biscuits should do."
"Foot rub?", Sasuke asked.
"Oi, foot rub", the dog replied, "Have you touched my paws before? They're baby soft! Puri puri!"
"Pakkun", Kakashi said, passing the scarf to the dog, "We'll need your help with tracking someone."
"Oh, I see. A girlfriend ne, Kakashi? Heh-heh-heh. You sly dog, you. What about the other one? Has she finally ditched you yet?"
When the jonin didn't reply, Pakkun muttered a string of curses before moving closer to the scarf. He had barely raised a foot when he stilled hesitantly.
"What's this I smell?" A bead of sweat broke down the dog's brow, "This is... !"
He turned sharply to the futon wherein Kyuubi was laid out on. The girl was still immobile, "Exactly the same as before...! Kitsune!"
"That won't be a problem, Pakkun", Kakashi stated with a slight lilt. Naruto and Sasuke watched the exchange between the two.
"Well, if you say so", the dog replied before turning somewhat reluctantly from the girl. He took a wiff of the scarf, "When do I get going?"
"Right now. Naruto will be coming along with you."
"What? I'm going to the bridge!"
"Naruto; Tsunami and Inari are in danger", Kakashi replied, "I'm sending you along because of your unique abilities. If any of us could be as versatile as you are, I would have sent that person instead. This is your battle, Naruto."
The blonde growled, "No way! Why don't you send Chojuro or Sasuke along! I have to settle my grudge with Haku!"
"Naruto", his teacher ordered, "Chojuro will have to be at the bridge because of his experience with Mist criminals. Besides, this is personal for him. I'm going along because I'm needed there. Between you and Sasuke, you're the more likely to complete a perfect rescue mission."
"I know", he grumbled, "But I have a personal reason too! Haku is going to be there..."
Kakashi ruffled his student's head and before walking out the door.
"Teme."
"Hn. Dobe."
"You better kick Haku's ass or you're going to be in a world of hurt whenever I get there."
Sasuke turned with a smirk, "Hn. Don't count on me leaving any spoils for you. If I can kick ANBU-dude's ass (Chojuro sputtered), I doubt Haku would be much of a hassle."
"Alright then, let's go!", Pakkun yipped, jumping onto Naruto's head, "The female smells nice, I want to see what she looks like."
"Naruto, should you find them, send word ahead of you", the jonin instructed, "Do not engage unless the odds are considerably in your favor..."
"Yeah, yeah, sensei, I know. I'll try to think outside my street instincts."
Kakashi eye-smiled, "No, Naruto. I'm counting on those instincts this time around."
The blonde grinned in reply.
"A-ano-sa, what about K-kyuubi?", Chojuro asked, "What if someone came back for her?"
A shadow fell over the jonin's masked face, "I'd like to see them try." No other words were needed to be said.
As the group headed out, Kakashi gave his beloved pug a small nod.
'Keep him safe.'
The dog responded with a salute.
'Will do.'
Sasuke smirked. This battle was going to have all the makings of an epic one. He couldn't wait.
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The first sight that greeted the group as they arrived at the bridge was a bad one.
A very bloody one.
Blood smears where everywhere and a small number of bodies littered the ground at intervals from where they stood. Tazuna cried in shock.
"Calm down", Kakashi urged, distracted from his observation of the battle field, "They might still be alive."
But the builder wasn't listening. His gaze was transfixed to the far edge of the bridge where two silhouttes were perceivable across the hanging mist.
"You!", Tazuna growled, a frightening rage creeping into his voice, "First, my family and now THIS?"
Without further delay, he charged, blindly racing along the length of the bridge, "I'll kill you!"
"Wait!", Chojuro called, running after him, "Stop! You'll get yourself killed!"
Sasuke and Kakashi rushed forward too, intent on saving their client from harm... only for the silhouttes to suddenly disappear.
"Now, Haku!"
The Uchiha turned in time to see the real figures behind them, a red contraption blinking in the hands of the one in the porcelain mask.
'No!', Kakashi gasped just as a slender finger depressed the button, a blinding light engulfing the whole of the bridge.
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Naruto had to admit that he never imagined an animal being able to move this fast. He could barely keep up with the dog as it was and it didn't help his situation any that the pug had decided to take to trees and rooftops.
'I mean, who the hell hops from one tree branch to another?', Naruto growled in thought, as he ducked underneath yet another phone cable, 'Maybe Tarzan but definitely not shinobi.'
Pakkun swerved abruptly causing Naruto to leap off a roof and run straight into a billboard; Gato's face plastered all over the bill.
"What the hell are you stopping for?", the blonde growled irritatedly.
The small dog sniffed the air once, then twice, "We're here."
"Here?"
Pakkun took off again and the blonde grumbled bitterly before following suit but sure enough, some distance in front of them, was what seemed to be an abandoned set of warehouses, right across the lane. It was sectioned a bit away from the rest of the slums and the land around it was encroached, putting the buildings in danger of being swallowed by the surrounding sea. The blonde gulped.
"Er, Pakkun? Can you use your smell-thingy to confirm if anyone else's around here?"
The dog sniffed the air again.
"Four, maybe five", it drawled, "They all smell like seawater, so they are most probably residents of the Wave."
"And the Dozukis? You sure they in there too?"
Pakkun gave him a blank look.
"R-riiight", Naruto said nervously, "So, I guess we're going in, then."
"You're scared the complex is a trap that will collapse on once you're inside?", the dog observed, "Some mercenary you are."
"Shut up! I'm not afraid of anything! Let's go!"
"Yare, yare, go on ahead", piped Pakkun, folding its front feet, "but this is where I leave you. I'm not a combat type."
A tick mark appeared on the Naruto's forehead, "Then what good are you?"
"I found them for you, didn't I?"
Naruto cursed before grabbing the pug by the collar and leaping off the roof, "We go together! We haven't even found them yet, you half-breed lout!"
xxXXxx
Tsunami struggled uncomfortably against the bonds that held her in place. Her son stood tied quietly at the other side of the pole, a fierce look of determination on his face.
Inari was strong but Tsunami didn't wish for him to experience something like this. No mother could ever want such for her only son.
Haku.
She growled.
It seems Naruto was right after all. She had trusted that boy - nursed him like her own - and now...
She struggled some more.
"Oi. Oi, hold still", one of the thugs called, sword held lightly at his side, "Don't want yer breaking that pretty neck of yere's now, do we?"
Tsunami struggled even more causing the thug to leer violently.
"Yer know what? Fuck whatever that girl-faced runt has ter say! I don't care what them problem is but them ain't paying us half enough shit to just patrol and guard this wench without getting some fun first! Thas's a load o' bull!"
The other thugs cheered him on as he ambled forward and removed the gag from the matron's mouth. She immediately spat in his face causing him to respond with a sharp slap.
"My, my, yere one feisty bwaitch, ain'tcha? Screw the pay, I'm going ter enjoy this!"
'Kaa-chan!, Inari yelled, pulling violently at his bonds, 'Kaa-chan!'
The man leered again as his colleagues gathered around them, "Sorry, kid, but yere just gonna have ter watch this-a-one. Don'tcha worry though, ita happens all the time around this parts! Even happen'd ter ma own momma!"
"Inari!", Tsunami ordered, "Don't worry, it's going to be alright!"
"Yeah, like hell! It's gon' be alright for we gunners, bwaitch!"
The man reached menancingly but was stopped by the metal doors suddenly caving in on itself and flying off its hinges. Naruto gripped his foot in pain.
"Ow, ow, itai! I thought chakra could be used to strengthen the limbs!"
Pakkun sweatdropped, "Have you ever heard about discrepancy before, brat? I'm sure it's in the dictionary."
"Nah, fuck that. Sensei's counting on me and this is what my instincts be telling me to do."
Inari's eyes widened in unconcealed relief, 'Naruto-niichan!'
"Naruto!", Tsunami called, tears shining in her eyes, "Naruto!"
"Who the hell is that?", one of the thugs asked.
"Who the hell?", the blonde replied, puffing out his chest, "Well, I'm..."
He broke into a devilish grin, "Maybe it would be better if I just showed you."
And like that, all hell broke loose.
Taking down the thugs was easy enough; as he drove yet another face first into a window pane, causing the blonde to wonder why Zabuza would hire such incompetent fools in the first place. He defeated them all in rapid succession, shattering the last one's nose with a violent backhand. The thug crumpled at his feet.
"You guys alright?", he asked as he ran towards the metal pole at the centre where Tsunami and Inari were properly trounced up.
"NARUTO, behind you!", Tsunami called.
He turned just in time to see the one that had molested Tsunami advancing on him.
Advancing on him in a bulldozer.
Naruto sweatdropped. "Now this is getting a bit too cliche."
"Pakkun! I need you to untie them!", he instructed the pug, "I'll take care of this loon."
The dog nodded and got to work, making use of his front paws much to Naruto's surprise.
The blonde walked boredly towards the menancing bulldozer, controlled by the thug who was laughing maniacally all the while.
"I'll cream yer! I swear I will, yere stupid kid! Should have just kept yer nose clean and just let us have our f..."
His rant was interrupted by the sight of Naruto; waving at him from just in front of the windshield.
"Men, you sure are stupid", Naruto tsked, shaking his head, "Trying to run over a mercer in such a slow moving vehicle. You really don't have much of a brain, do you?"
He saved the thug from answering by smashing the windshield apart with a giant wrench. Before the man could reach for his sword, the same wrench came back around to knock the daylights out of him.
"Oops", Naruto smirked as he reached through the broken glass to slip the keys off the ignition, "I think I went a bit overboard... 'might have knocked some teeth into his skull..."
The vehicle jerked once before coming to a stop.
"Pakkun?", Naruto asked as he leapt back to the ground.
"Almost done...", the dog growled, battling with Tsunami's bonds.
It yipped as the ropes fell away and Tsunami was freed only for a beeping sound to emit from the pole they had been tied to.
"What's that?", the blonde asked.
Pakkun wrinkled his nose, "Naruto, that's a..."
With a loud explosion, the roof immediately caved on all of them.
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"Kakashi-san!"
Sasuke cracked open his eyes to find their teacher hunched over a rail, blue lightning dancing where his hands curled around the metal. Chojuro raced to the jonin's aide while Tazuna stood perplexed at the middle of the bridge.
Sasuke blinked again. Didn't a bomb just go off?
"Zabuza-san?", the masked figure asked.
The demon of the Mist replied with a snort, "He always keeps surprising me, that blasted copycat. Using an electric surge to fry the circuits of the bombs lining the bridge before they could go off. Truly impressive."
Kakashi slumped to the ground just as Chojuro reached his side, his palms blackened from where he'd clinged unto the rail.
Zabuza grabbed his sword.
"But it seems this all still works in my favour. The builder first then Kakashi!"
With amazing speed, he had pulled up beside Tazuna, sword held at the ready. His great swing was stopped, however, by a much smaller sword; forcing its wielder a few metres back.
Zabuza raised a short brow, "Why do the mice always have to interfere?"
"Chojuro", Kakashi coughed weakly, struggling to get to his feet, "Protect Tazuna. Leave him to me."
The next second was a blur because Zabuza had rushed at the weakened Kakashi, aiming a severing blow at his head. The sword instead was forced to cut into the railing as a blue blur tackled the jonin aside, saving him from a near-certain death.
Zabuza's eyebrow twitched irritably as he watched Chojuro foil his slaughter once again. The bespectacled boy was suddenly more competent than he earlier seemed.
"Please, leave this to me, Kakashi-san", Chojuro pleaded, "This is my battle to fight."
"Haku", Zabuza growled irritably.
Chojuro turned in shock to see the masked assailant airborne, ready to unleash a flurry of senbon at them.
However, he too was interrupted by a blinding kick to the head, sending him tumbling back from whence he came.
Haku righted himself and adjusted his mask.
"Sasuke-san, you are none of my business. I do not wish to kill you."
The Uchiha sneered, "Neither do I. But I'm going to bash your skull in, regardless, till you can't tell the difference between your face and that mask, you treacherous bastard."
"Tazuna!", Chojuro called. The builder immediately stepped forward, hefting the limp Kakashi to a spot safely tucked away from the rage of battle.
Zabuza swiftly leapt after them but was attacked by a great surge of water this time, forcing him to spin deftly out of the way.
The blue-haired Sekiho operative appeared once the waves had subsided.
Zabuza chuckled, "I see (sniff). This should be interesting. And just who the fuck do you think you are?"
"I am an ANBU of the Sekihotai." Zabuza's eyes widened, "I'm here to bring you to justice for crimes against the Water, the Sekiho corporation and the Mizukage himself."
Chojuro raised his katana to eye-level, checking the reflection on the blade to ensure that Tazuna and Kakashi had safely gotten away, "I'm also going to avenge the blood of my fallen teammates; Hatoshi Konji and Yomura Yasahara, and that of every other ANBU agent you have ever spilled."
"Heh-heh. ANBU of the Sekihotai, eh?", the hulking man chuckled, "If you truly are in the black ops then you must know why they call me the demon of the Mist."
Chojuro frowned.
"Well then", Zabuza mock-bowed, "it'll be my utmost pleasure demonstrating so all over again."
And with that, he charged.
"I won't ask again, Sasuke-san", Haku continued, "This is not your fight. Let me..."
Faster than lightning, the raven-haired male moved, launching three kunai straight at his opponent. Haku barely even flinched, dodging them all with relative ease.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke-san, but to be a true weapon for Zabuza-san, I have to kill my heart and do what I must."
The masked boy flashed forward with incredible speed only to run straight into a fist from the Uchiha.
Sasuke smirked only to realise that he'd gotten an afterimage, as the real Haku spun out of his range before turning him into pincushion with senbon.
The Uchiha burst into a log of wood.
'Damn!', Sasuke smirked as he twined kunai and mono-wire around his fingers, 'Even faster than Chojuro! This is going to be interesting.'
Kakashi cursed as Tazuna forced him behind a crane, feeling angry at his current state of helplessness.
"Thank you for saving the bridge", the builder gasped, tears dolling down his face, "Decades worth of effort was almost blown to smithereens just now."
The jonin ignored the grateful man and instead looked down at his charred hands. This was a battle he couldn't afford to sit out on. Sasuke and Chojuro, though extremely talented, definitely did not have what it took to take on the Mist demon and his accomplice.
It was something even he was scared to acknowledge. Gazing sharply at Tazuna, he spoke in a raspy voice, "Listen to me. If you really don't want any of your hardwork going down the drain, then, there is something you must do."
"What?"
The jonin's eyes bored into his, "Reach into my weapons pouch and search for a small bottle."
Maybe this battle could still be salvaged after all.
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(meanwhile, at the warehouse)
Uzumaki Naruto had seen his fair share of explosions over the course of a fourteen year lifespan.
He had once worked as an arsonist, and while the Molotav cocktail did have its own nefarious numbers of perks, it was nothing compared to the brilliant flashes simply created by the common lob of a grenade.
That, and a household flamethrower; which the blonde could easily rig up with some cloth, spray can and a litre of diesel.
Nevertheless, despite being a Dan of all things going boom, Naruto couldn't help but be rooted in shock as he watched an explosion to murder every single one of his occur, taking with it the entire roofwork as collateral.
The entire roof, that was currently beginning to crash down on their heads.
Oh, wow.
"NARUTO!"
Pakkun bit his leg in anger, quickly jolting the blonde back to reality; who started and gasped before joining his hands and doing the first thing that cropped up in his adled mind -
"Taijyu Kage bunshin no jutsu!"
The entire warehouse succumbed under the strain, caving in on itself in the process.
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UN
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A very, very mild cliffhanger. Thank you all for the long wait. I'll resuming publishing at a regular speed once I'm done with the last of my papers tomorrow.
Ja ne and leave a review!